bate (v.) Old form(s): baite
abate, modify, lessen
Cym III.ii.55[Innogen to Pisanio, of seeing Posthumus] Who long'st, like me, to see thy lord; who long'st / (O let me bate) but not like me [i.e. let me say it less strongly]
H5 III.ii.25[Pistol to Fluellen] Good bawcock, bate thy rage!
LLL I.i.6[King to all, of Time] Th'endeavour of this present breath may buy / That honour which shall bate his scythe's keen edge [i.e. blunt]
MA II.iii.176[Claudio to Don Pedro, of Beatrice] she will die ... rather than she will bate one breath of her accustomed crossness
MV IV.i.72[Antonio to Bassanio, of arguing with Shylock] You may as well ... bid the main flood bate his usual height
Tim III.iii.27[Sempronius to Servant] Who bates mine honour shall not know my coin
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